Failed coup in Congo: 3 ‘CIA agents’ arrested in dramatic shootout – vopbuzz
NEW DELHI: Three Americans arrested Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for their alleged involvement in a failed coup attempt. Arrested after a clash in the capital Kinshasa, they are believed to be CIA agents, but the US government has denied any official involvement.
video footage Footage circulating on social media shows two arrested men, thought to be Americans, begging for mercy as they are surrounded by Congolese forces. The men looked bloodied and battered as they sat on the ground after the failed coup attempt, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lucy Tamlyn, expressed shock and concern about the events. “I am shocked by this morning’s events and deeply concerned by reports of American citizens allegedly involved,” he said on X (formerly Twitter). “Rest assured that we are cooperating with authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the fullest extent possible as we investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable all American citizens involved.”
The DRC military found: coup leader 41-year-old US-educated Christian as Malanga former refugee He had become a naturalized American. Malanga and his son Marcel were also among those arrested by the army.
The passport seized from one of the Americans reportedly bore the name of Benjamin Zalman-Polun, a 36-year-old Marylander with a background as a marijuana entrepreneur. Zalman-Polun was previously linked to Malanga.
The coup attempt took place near President Felix Tshisekedi’s office in Kinshasa. General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesman for the Democratic Republic of Congo army, announced on national television that the coup attempt had been foiled and that approximately 50 people, including three Americans, had been arrested and were currently being interrogated.
Footage showed heavily armed paramilitary forces, including men wearing US flags on their uniforms, arriving at the president’s office at the Palais de la Nation. The multinational group reportedly included a British naturalized person who was the deputy commander.
The coup attempt targeted the homes of key government figures, including Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe and Defense Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba, but failed to locate the residences.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is grappling with violence from paramilitary groups vying for control of its mineral-rich resources. Concerns have been growing that the United States’ influence in Africa is waning due to aggressive Chinese and Russian diplomacy in recent months.
President Felix Tshisekedi, who was re-elected with more than 70% of the vote, faced accusations of arresting members of the opposition with impunity. Although the situation appeared calm, streets near the Palais de la Nation remained closed to traffic following the coup attempt, according to AFP journalists.
The arrest of the Americans and the failed coup attempt underscore the ongoing instability and geopolitical tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the broader region.
video footage Footage circulating on social media shows two arrested men, thought to be Americans, begging for mercy as they are surrounded by Congolese forces. The men looked bloodied and battered as they sat on the ground after the failed coup attempt, according to a report by the Daily Mail.
U.S. Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lucy Tamlyn, expressed shock and concern about the events. “I am shocked by this morning’s events and deeply concerned by reports of American citizens allegedly involved,” he said on X (formerly Twitter). “Rest assured that we are cooperating with authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the fullest extent possible as we investigate these criminal acts and hold accountable all American citizens involved.”
The DRC military found: coup leader 41-year-old US-educated Christian as Malanga former refugee He had become a naturalized American. Malanga and his son Marcel were also among those arrested by the army.
The passport seized from one of the Americans reportedly bore the name of Benjamin Zalman-Polun, a 36-year-old Marylander with a background as a marijuana entrepreneur. Zalman-Polun was previously linked to Malanga.
The coup attempt took place near President Felix Tshisekedi’s office in Kinshasa. General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesman for the Democratic Republic of Congo army, announced on national television that the coup attempt had been foiled and that approximately 50 people, including three Americans, had been arrested and were currently being interrogated.
Footage showed heavily armed paramilitary forces, including men wearing US flags on their uniforms, arriving at the president’s office at the Palais de la Nation. The multinational group reportedly included a British naturalized person who was the deputy commander.
The coup attempt targeted the homes of key government figures, including Economy Minister Vital Kamerhe and Defense Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba, but failed to locate the residences.
The Democratic Republic of Congo is grappling with violence from paramilitary groups vying for control of its mineral-rich resources. Concerns have been growing that the United States’ influence in Africa is waning due to aggressive Chinese and Russian diplomacy in recent months.
President Felix Tshisekedi, who was re-elected with more than 70% of the vote, faced accusations of arresting members of the opposition with impunity. Although the situation appeared calm, streets near the Palais de la Nation remained closed to traffic following the coup attempt, according to AFP journalists.
The arrest of the Americans and the failed coup attempt underscore the ongoing instability and geopolitical tensions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the broader region.
